Over the last couple of years when teams have prepared for the Auburn Tigers they have known what to expect. You knew the Tigers were athletic, you knew their backcourt was quick, you knew they lacked size in the frontcourt and you knew they lacked depth. When summing up Jeff Lebo’s 2008-09 version of the Tigers, you come to the exact same conclusion. They are quick and athletic but lack size and depth.

The Tigers have an 11-6 record, 1-2 in conference and entered SEC play with a seven game winning streak.  In SEC play they quickly lost their first two games (L, 68-56 at South Carolina, L, 68-65 vs. Florida). On Saturday they won their first conference game, an 85-71 victory over Alabama.

Lebo returns four of five starters from last season, so they do have experience, but the major difference between this year and last year’s squad is the return of senior Korvotney Barber (6-7, forward). When Barber broke his hand, ten games into the season last year, he was averaging 13.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and leading the country in field goal percentage at 72-percent. With him out for the season the Tigers were forced to play the rest of the year without a true post presence.

This season Barber is averaging 12.9 points and is one of three Tigers averaging double figures. Because of their lack of size, the Tigers are often forced to surround Barber with four guards, leaving him as their one and only hope for a rebound. On January 18 against South Carolina he recorded a career-high 18 rebounds. Over his last eight games he is averaging a double-double with 12.3 points and 11.4 rebounds.

The two other Tigers averaging double figures are junior DeWayne Reed (6-1, guard) and junior college transfer Tay Waller (6-2, guard). Reed, averaging 13.4 points, is Auburn’s best scorer off the dribble and he has a decent mid-range game. He also does a good job at getting his teammates involved, as he is second on the team in assists with 3.8. Waller is by far the best shooter for the Tigers. On a team that is shooting a combined 32-percent from deep, Waller has already knocked down 49 threes and shooting just over 36-percent. He is averaging 12.6 points.

Senior Quantez Robertson (6-3, guard) is the floor general for the War Eagles. While, he is not a great scorer he has been one of the best assist guys in the conference his entire career. This season he is leading the Tigers in assists with 3.9. He is also a tremendous rebounder for his size, averaging 4.8.

The last returning starter is senior Rasheem Barrett (6-5, guard). Barrett got off to a slow start this season as he battled a groin injury but has heated up as late. He has scored in double figures in six of his last eight games, including a 15 point, 5 rebound performance at Florida on January 14.

Last season the Cats snuck by the Tigers 66-63 at Auburn, despite the fact that Patrick Patterson and Joe Crawford shot 16-of-22 combined. This year expect things to be a little different.

The Cats are just too deep and Patrick Patterson and Perry Stevenson should have a field day against the smaller Tigers. The only way for Auburn to stay in the game is to have their plethora of guards create turnovers. They are averaging 10.5 steals, which is good for fourth in the country, so if they can create havoc in Kentucky’s backcourt and create some easy buckets, they can stay in the game.

I just don’t see it happening. Kentucky is playing too well at this point in the season and I think the Tigers will struggle offensively, just as Georgia did. Also, the Cats have a little chip on their shoulder after being snubbed in both polls. Cats by 20.